[PDF][PDF] Oxidation of cofilin mediates T cell hyporesponsiveness under oxidative stress conditions

M Klemke, GH Wabnitz, F Funke, B Funk… - Immunity, 2008 - cell.com
M Klemke, GH Wabnitz, F Funke, B Funk, H Kirchgessner, Y Samstag
Immunity, 2008cell.com
Oxidative stress leads to impaired T cell activation. A central integrator of T cell activation is
the actin-remodelling protein cofilin. Cofilin is activated through dephosphorylation at Ser3.
Activated cofilin enables actin dynamics through severing and depolymerization of F-actin.
Binding of cofilin to actin is required for formation of the immune synapse and T cell
activation. Here, we showed that oxidatively stressed human T cells were impaired in
chemotaxis-and costimulation-induced F-actin modulation. Although cofilin was …
Summary
Oxidative stress leads to impaired T cell activation. A central integrator of T cell activation is the actin-remodelling protein cofilin. Cofilin is activated through dephosphorylation at Ser3. Activated cofilin enables actin dynamics through severing and depolymerization of F-actin. Binding of cofilin to actin is required for formation of the immune synapse and T cell activation. Here, we showed that oxidatively stressed human T cells were impaired in chemotaxis- and costimulation-induced F-actin modulation. Although cofilin was dephosphorylated, steady-state F-actin levels increased under oxidative stress conditions. Mass spectrometry revealed that cofilin itself was a target for oxidation. Cofilin oxidation induced formation of an intramolecular disulfide bridge and loss of its Ser3 phosphorylation. Importantly, dephosphorylated oxidized cofilin, although still able to bind to F-actin, did not mediate F-actin depolymerization. Impairing actin dynamics through oxidation of cofilin provides a molecular explanation for the T cell hyporesponsiveness caused by oxidative stress.
cell.com